Vice President Kamala Harris received President Joe Biden’s backing Sunday to take his place as the Democratic presidential nominee, an endorsement he made after announcing he is abandoning his re-election bid.

Biden’s decision to bow out breaks open the nominating process — meaning Harris or any other Democrat could seek the party’s nomination. The delegates who were elected during the primary campaign to support Biden will now be tasked with voting on who will be the party’s nominee. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago, and with Biden’s backing, Harris became the instant favorite.